Marriage is a wonderful milestone in life. There’s the exploration of dreams and goals with your partner. There’s this ability to create a new life where you’re growing as an individual and as a couple.
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Divorce rates have been on the rise, with first marriages falling somewhere between 40% and 50%. Yet the idea of divorce still tends to be a surprise factor and one of the most emotionally draining experiences.
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Anxiety is somewhat of a silent epidemic that affects millions of people across the world. It’s a normal part of life in minimal doses, giving us the ability to respond when there’s perceived danger.
It’s when anxiety ramps up and manifests as persistent worry, fear, and physical disruptions that it becomes problematic. Medication is always an option for managing anxiety, but many non-medication alternatives have been proven to be equally effective.
Being able to implement alternative methods allows you to build long-term resilience and move toward improvements in quality of life. Here are 6 ways to naturally improve anxious symptoms.
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Addiction is any behavior that is performed in excess. The most common associations with addiction are drugs or alcohol. This concept, however, can apply to other potentially harmful behaviors that may negatively impact your quality of life.
Sex addiction can have a blurred boundary line between where behaviors are acceptable and where they become excessive. This is further complicated by the broad range of behaviors that can be considered problematic or simply a preference, depending on the context.
Most people who are dealing with a sex addiction don’t wake up one day and decide to overindulge. It’s more likely to be a condition that has been brewing behind the scenes, rooted in one or multiple causes.
Let’s take a look at some of the underlying causes of sex addiction.
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Humans are not meant to live life alone. We’re social beings who thrive in the company of others.
When we find someone to settle down with, it is generally because that person fulfills some of our basic needs. They provide safety, security, a home, love, friendship, connection, and intimacy.
In a meaningful partnership, intimacy may serve as the foundation for all the other factors. When emotional distance starts to form, you can think of it as a windshield crack. At first, it’s a small chip, but it slowly grows over time until one day, it spans the whole window.
Emotional distance may stem from multiple factors, but a primary source is a lack of communication. This distance can become significant and problematic if left unattended. Here’s a look at tips you can use to improve communication with an emotionally distant partner.
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Sleep is one of the most basic functions that we do each day. It’s necessary for our mind and body health but often gets pushed off when our schedules get busy.
Unfortunately, even one night of lost sleep can have detrimental impacts on our functioning and mental health. You may not notice the effects immediately, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t there. This connection goes pretty deep.
Here’s a look at why sleep is so vital to your overall mental health.
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PTSD is not an unfamiliar term, but for many, it is often misunderstood. While typically associated with military life and war veterans, it’s also prevalent among the general population.
PTSD can be considered a crossroads between past moments and the present — when your mind cannot distinguish between past trauma and your current reality. Simple stressors can cause flashbacks, panic, and immobility.
Every day, stress will come and go, but PTSD continues to affect life until it is resolved.
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Our childhood years shape us in many ways. The bond formed with our parents or caregivers from a young age is one of them. When this bond is ineffectively formed or damaged, it can result in developmental challenges like attachment trauma. It stems from not having basic needs met or being nurtured with care or compassion.
Attachment trauma is different from other types of trauma in that it’s more subtle and develops over time. Here’s a look at five signs of attachment trauma often seen in adults.
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Now more than ever, we’re exposed to stories and experiences with narcissism and gaslighting. Social media helps provide a platform for conversations about mental health and relationship struggles. People, in general, are also more inclined to divulge specific details about their personal experiences, whether to cope or to help others learn from their mistakes.
Having conversations about narcissism and gaslighting is a great start, but it’s only beneficial if you have a true understanding of what they are. Let’s explore the topic further.
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It’s an age-old question that every child is asked many times during their school year. What do you want to be when you grow up?
When you’re younger, it’s an easy question. Nothing is unimaginable or out of the question. If you want to be a baseball player or ballerina, of course, you can. As you get older, this question becomes a bit more realistic, but many young people have ideas on what they want their careers to be.
What happens when you don’t actually know what you want out of your career? It’s more common than you think. Finding a career path can be a bit challenging. If you’re unsure what you enjoy doing, there are some steps you can take as you search for what comes next.
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You and your partner are a team. You’re facing this thing called life together. Unfortunately, poor communication skills can derail even the best of relationships. It can lead to misunderstandings, increased conflict, and larger hurdles than what is necessary.
You may find yourself in a defeated place, but fixing bad communication is absolutely possible. Here are six ways you can start.
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Couples come to therapy for a number of different reasons. It could be related to concerns of communication problems, issues surrounding trust, financial matters, or a lurking feeling of disconnect. One thing that isn’t often the main driver for attending couples therapy is sex and intimacy.
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If you’ve had a recent breakup or feel like you are in a cycle of failed relationships, the prospect of dating again can be daunting. However, you are not doomed to repeat past relationship mistakes. The key is to be willing to learn from your relationship history and make the necessary adjustments to have healthy relationships in the future. Here are five tips to help get you started.
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Anxiety is a common occurrence for many people. It can cause a separation of your mind and body, leading to feelings of internal struggle and chaos.
While there are conventional options for treatment, more and more people are turning to natural alternatives to soothe their nervous systems. Here, we’ll explore six ways to manage your anxiety naturally.
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The Gottman Method is a trusted approach for couples counseling to help overcome communication habits, conflict resolution, and connectivity struggles. This method was developed by psychologists Dr. John and Dr. Julie Gottman after over 40 years of relationship research.
Through the course of their work, the Gottmans have been able to pinpoint specific problem areas within a relationship that can lead to divorce or end a relationship. These behaviors fall under the umbrella of the “Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse.” Couples move through the seven floors of the Sound Relationship House theory to address these behaviors.
One of the big questions that couples have before beginning this method is, how long will it take? Let’s explore this further.
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Going through a divorce is rarely easy and never fun. It’s not something anyone plans for when entering into a relationship.
You wake up to an empty bed. Your closet and dresser drawers are suddenly half full. There’s one set of shoes by the front door. Throughout the day, there are little reminders of your previous reality.
Figuring out what comes next can be the hardest part. For men, society often paints a different picture of what post-divorce life looks like. There’s the return to the bachelor lifestyle, playing the field, or enjoying a sense of “freedom.”
What may be surprising to hear, however, is that men often have a tougher time handling life on the other side of divorce. Let’s explore why that may be the case.
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When you think of positive attributes you want in a relationship, the top ones are probably feeling safe, loved, respected, and secure. What doesn’t always come to mind is the term validation.
Validation is very important but often misunderstood. Everyone wants to feel seen and heard. They want to be supported by their partners. The foundation for that, and the health and longevity of a relationship, is through validation. So, how can you validate your partner?
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If you were asked to name a dating red flag, you could probably come up with a few. While subjective, most people have an understanding of what the term means.
What makes red flags so perplexing is how they can appear appealing at first. You may find yourself drawn to someone with problematic behavior, only to realize later that these are not traits you want in a partner. So, what makes red flags look so attractive at the beginning of a relationship? Let’s take a look.
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As humans, we have a natural desire for human connection and social interaction with others. In fact, without it, we risk harming our physical, emotional, and mental health.
With that said, socializing doesn’t come naturally or without some element of struggle for everyone. Social batteries can become drained. Certain situations can be triggering. Circumstances can make different engagements feel uncomfortable and overwhelming.
Social anxiety can manifest in several different ways. You may find yourself panicking in large crowds or when you attend functions or group gatherings. You may feel jitters or perspiration when giving a presentation in front of a group. Meeting new people and making small talk in those settings can feel stressful.
As with any other anxiety type, there isn’t just one cause for social anxiety. Here, we’ll discuss some of the more common root causes impacting social anxiety.
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Your day is booked from the moment you wake up until you’re ready for bed. Your partner’s schedule looks the same. By the time you have a minute, you’re exhausted, resulting in little time together.
At a point, you may find yourself just accepting that that’s how it will be. Unfortunately, this can take a toll on your relationship. Here’s how you cancultivate healthy practices with your partner when time is limited.
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